Bishop Frank J. Dewane presided over a groundbreaking ceremony for the Casa San Juan Diego Affordable Housing Multifamily Development on March 16, 2026, in Immokalee.
This thoughtfully planned garden-style apartment community will offer 80 modern residences, featuring a balanced mix of 40 spacious three-bedroom and 40 comfortable two-bedroom units in land adjacent to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.
The Diocese of Venice partnered on the project with National Development of America, Inc. (NDA), and was supported by the Collier County Human Services Division, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Also present for the ceremony were Father Teofilo Ramirez Moreno, CS, Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, and Father David Vidal, Pastor of nearby Ave Maria Parish, as well as Collier County officials including County Commissioner William L. McDaniel Jr., Christie Bettencourt of the Immokalee Community Redevelopment Agency and several others from various agencies.
Bishop Dewane first explained how the community’s name relates to the sacred connection between St. Juan Diego and his visions of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the name of the neighboring Parish Church.
Immokalee is a rural farming community in Collier County that lies northwest of Naples and southeast of Fort Myers. Many in the community work in the agriculture industry and safe, affordable housing is scarce.
“The Diocese is building this community because we want to offer a safe place for families to live that recognizes a certain human dignity possessed by every person,” Bishop Dewane said. “We each know what it all meant to us to have a safe and secure home growing up. The Diocese is trying to make a difference here. Housing is an important issue throughout Immokalee and other communities. By creating this housing, families with children will stay together.”
As part of the blessing, Bishop Dewane added, “The work we do here will continue to build up the Lord’s Kingdom. May the Lord bless all who will occupy this housing.” Fathers Ramirez Moreno and Vidal both assisted in the blessing of the property.
John Raymond of NDA explained the multi-year process to get the project moving forward to its current construction. He praised Bishop Dewane and the ongoing partnership between the Diocese and NDA for building affordable housing communities across the region.
“They are going to be class A, yet affordable apartments creating a foundation for children and families to thrive,” Raymond said.
Commissioner McDaniel offered praise to the Bishop for having the commitment to create the project and he said he was proud to be a small part of something so good for Immokalee.
Each apartment is designed with contemporary finishes, including granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and private balconies. Residents will also enjoy access to inviting community amenities such as an outdoor recreation area and a welcoming clubhouse, ideal for gatherings and relaxation. With its focus on quality, community, and comfort, Casa San Juan Diego is set to become a vibrant and integral part of the Immokalee neighborhood. Estimated completion is May 2027.
While the monthly rates are not currently set, the ranges will be about half of the market rate for Immokalee. Application information will be made available closer to the completion of the project.
Casa San Juan Diego is just the latest joint-project between the Diocese and NDA. Previously, they worked together to build Casa San Juan Bosco I & II, consisting of 97 duplex homes used for farmworker housing in Arcadia, and later the adjacent St. John Paul II Villas, a 64-unit senior housing complex. Other projects include St. Peter Claver Place, a 208-unit affordable housing community in Fort Myers, Casa San Alfonso, an affordable housing community in Zolfo Springs, and San Pedro at Meadow Park affordable housing in Arcadia. An additional affordable housing project is currently in development for Bowling Green.
In addition, the Diocese has built several low-income elderly housing communities in Sarasota (2), Fort Myers (4), Port Charlotte (2), and Palmetto (2). Partnering with Catholic Charities, the Diocese created the Family Haven transitional emergency housing for individuals or families in need in North Port and Englewood, as well as Our Mother’s House, a transitional living program for mom’s with young children.
